Spoon-bait



(No Model.)

G. M. SKINNER.

SPOON BAIT.

No. 479,575. Patented July 26, 1892.

wvewboz lmtmeooeo 3 mica/e1 5 bMwfl/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'GARDINER M. SKINNER, OF CLAYTON, NEW YORK.

SPOON-BAIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,575, dated July 26, 1892.

Application filed December 10, 1890. $erial No. 374,135. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GARDINER M. SKINNER, of Clayton, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spoon-Bait, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to the construction of trolling spoon-baits, and more particularly to the construction of the snap-hook of the draw-wire and the means for connecting the hooks to it and disconnecting them therefrom.

My object is to produce a draw-wire which is adapted to enable a person to readily put on or take OK the hooks, and which will also prevent the hooks from sliding longitudinally along the wire.

My invention consists in the several novel features of construction and operation hereinafter described, and which are specifically set forth in the claims hereto annexed.

It is a fact well known to anglers that a trol ling spoon-bait,provided with adraW-wirehaving a single elongated snap-hook formed at the lower or outer end, which receives the eye of the hook, is faulty, unsafe, and frequently unsnapped by a struggling fish, resulting in the hook being released from what would then be the free end. In order to prevent such misfortune, the loop is sometimes wound-with fine copper wire at the junction of the two parts above the eye of the hooks, or the loop top maybe pinched securely fast by a pair of pliers; but all such methods are objectionable, as they make it very difficult to replace a damaged or broken hook. It is believed that this form of loop is unsnapped accidentally owing to the elongated form of loop, which permitsast-ruggling fish to slip the eye of the hook up toward the loop top and then crosswise of the two parts, thus obtaining aleverage which unlocks the loop, leaving a free end and allowing the fish to escape with the hook. Such an accident is also liable to occur should a fish get the loop in suitable position between its jaws.

It will be seen that by my construction the loop can be readily unlocked, and also that the hook cannot obtain any leverage upon the loop, so as to unlock it. It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the draw-Wire. Fig. 2 isalike view thereof, showing the wire bent outward twice and crossed twice on the same side. Fig.3isatransversesectiononline X X. Fig. 4 is a plan of' the draw-wire bent and crossed twice, such crossing being on opposite sides to create a sinuosity or twisting of the wire.

A is the draw-wire, consisting of a single piece of wire bent to form the eye 1 at the upper end, in which the swivel is secured. The other end is bent, first, to create the angle 2; second, to create the ring 8, and, third, to create the angle 4, and, lastly, the free end is bent to form a hook 5, which is adapted to fit closely and detachably over the wire. This creates an angular projection of the wire on each side and a ring at each end, the wire crossing -at 6, forming one end of the ring. This ring should be only a little larger than the wire of the eye of the hooks.

As shown in Fig. 2, the wire is bent to form the angle 2, then to form a curve then toform the ring3, and then crossing to form the curve or angle 8, opposite to 7, then crossing at 9, then to form the angle 4, and then to form the hook, and this double crossing on the same side increases the stability and utility of the device.

As shown in Fig. 4, the crossings are on opposite sides or somewhat twisted,with an open twist creating a sinuosity, in the lower end of the draw-wire. The hook upon the free end of the wire is not clinched around the wire, but only partially encircles it, so that it only detachably engages with it and can be detached therefrom by pressure applied to the bends 2 and 4. This construction, with the auxiliary and lateral bends between the ring and the hook and their crossing to form the ring, also serves the purpose of preventing the disengagement of the hook 5 by any leverage applied to the ring in any direction.

What I claim as my invention, and. desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A draw-wire for a trolling spoon-bait, consisting of a single piece of wire bent to form a closed eye at the top and bent at the I00 bottom to form a ring closed by the crossing of the wire, and bent to form the outwardlypro ecting angles above the ring and having a hook upon its free end detachably engaging with the main wire, as set forth.

2. A draw-Wire for a trolling spoon-bait, consisting of a single piece of wire provided with a closed eye at the top and bent at the bottom to form a ring, then crossed and bent outwardly on both sides, then bent inwardly and again crossed, then bent outwardly on both sides, and then bent inwardly, the free end being bent to form a hook adapted to fit over the body of the Wire detachably, as set forth.

A draw-wire for a trolling spoon-bait,

G. M. SKINNER. In presence of- H. P. DENIsoN, O. W. SMITH. 

